New Player - Monk vs Berserker?

[Zamakou]

<DIV> <DIV>I'm trying to figure out what the main differences are between the Berserker and the Monk. I think I want to try a Monk, but the Berserker rages sound really cool at the same time. Could someone go into a little detail into the Monk class, especially in regards to special abilities, power against mobs, damage level - compared to the berserker?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks!</DIV></DIV>

[Dord]

<P>Hi Zama, I'm sure older and wiser monks will be able to give you excellent advice but as I replied to your other thread on the gameplay board I thought I might as well keep up the impetus :smileyhappy: The Monk FAQ at the top of this page will give you really useful background info as will the spell list. Whether you prefer zerker or monk depends on whether you like to wear heavy armour (monks wear leather - or the very cool martial arts gis, if we can find them!) and what you want to do in game.</P> <P>Zerkers of course like big shiny metal things (polearms, swords, exes etc) whereas we monks like natural things (fist wraps, staffs etc) and we are very martial arts focused. We can definately tank, though it takes a bit of work - especially when facing groups. We only have one group taunt you see.</P> <P>Damage wise I think we do pretty well. I had a shadow knight and monk in exactly the same level range for a couple of days last week (36) and noticed the monk cracked through the mobs far better than my SK. </P> <P>Soloing, at level 42 , I think we're excellent and lots of fun. I can go invis for a little while to get into awkward areas for quests etc or just run through a zone and feign death if things get out of hand. We have a heal spell that can come in useful both for soloing and I've used it in a group on occasion.</P> <P>All round, I love my monk so far and enjoy the whole shaolin kung fu ethos he has, to the extent that my SK is now consigned to the kitchen making food and drink so my monk can stay out longer.</P> <P>You could always give both a try. Level 20 is possible quite quickly and gives you a good idea as to the styles of play needed.</P> <P> </P>

[Zamakou]

<DIV>Wow. Good stuff. Thank again for your help on this Dordur. I REALLY appreciate it. I will try both for sure, but I am leaning towards monk 90% right now. How difficult is it to obtain these gi's? Is there any where I can go to see screenshots of what they look like?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks!</DIV>

[SirJohn]

I've played a zerker and monk to 70 ..so here's my thoughts on them <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> For out an out tanking ability ..its got to be a zerker no question.. People still seem to be hung up on monks tanking and will prefer a plate tank every time in a group and I cant say I blame them ..For a monk to tank well they need to know thier stuff and have half decent gear and combat arts.. Personally I enjoy the challenge of tanking with a monk ..Its a lot harder to maintain agro on multi mob encounters .. you feel the pain a lot more when you get hit.. but theres no greater satisfaction when your in a group with a plate tank and they cant hack it so you step in to do the job <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> At higher lvls Zerkers do great AE damage and have a lot easier time holding onto agro when more than one enemys involved and busting out rampage and open wounds makes it worth rolling a zerker for when you see a dozen dead bodys lying at your groups feet <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> At the end of the day I spose it comes down to how you want to play the game ..both are great fun classes .. Monks get feign death which helps a hell of a lot with soloing and getting groups deep inside dungeons without having to kill all the trash.. Its also a bonus that rare leather pelts are a lot cheaper  than the rare metal clusters so its easier going on the wallet as well to keep a brawler geared up through the tiers than a plate tank .. On individual mobs a monk will drop them quicker than a zerker..with some decent weapons they dispose of mobs pretty quick.. A zerker at the higher lvls will make mincemeat of multi mob encounters .. Monks also get a heal which helps them out no ends when soloing tough mobs.. plus safe fall .. so if you like jumping off cliffs etc it comes in very handy ..One area where monks suffer imo is anything over group content ..raid mobs will eat you alive unless you are uber and fully decked out etc.. where a zerker will make the job look easy in comparison..So for out an out tankage I would say a zerkers definetly got the upper hand .. However a monk will solo better and can handle most things just as well but loose out on the harder mobs if tanking for a group ..While I love both classes as I like seeing mobs die I got to say monks are proberly the more fun to play out of the two <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and with another combat update around the corner that is meant to be fixing some of the issues monks have atm who knows what will happen..I say roll one of each and give em both a go.. I dont think you'll be dissapointed with either ..<div></div>

[JudyJudy]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> SirJohnno wrote:<BR>I've played a zerker and monk to 70 ..so here's my thoughts on them <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <BR>For out an out tanking ability ..its got to be a zerker no question.. People still seem to be hung up on monks tanking and will prefer a plate tank every time in a group and I <BR>cant say I blame them ..<FONT color=#99ff00><STRONG>For a monk to tank well they need to know thier stuff</STRONG></FONT> and have half decent gear and combat arts.. Personally I enjoy the challenge of tanking with <BR>a monk ..Its a lot harder to maintain agro on multi mob encounters .. you feel the pain a lot more when you get hit.. but <FONT color=#99ff00><STRONG>theres no greater satisfaction when your in a group with a plate tank and they cant hack it so you step in to do the job <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></STRONG></FONT> <BR>At higher lvls Zerkers do great AE damage and have a lot easier time holding onto agro when more than one enemys involved and busting out rampage and open wounds makes it worth rolling a zerker for when you see a dozen dead bodys lying at your groups feet <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <BR><FONT color=#99ff00><STRONG>At the end of the day I spose it comes down to how you want to play the game ..both are great fun classes</STRONG> </FONT>.. Monks get feign death which helps a hell of a lot with soloing and getting groups deep inside dungeons without having to kill all the trash.. Its also a bonus that rare leather pelts are a lot cheaper  than the rare metal clusters so its easier going on the wallet as well to keep a brawler geared up through the tiers than a plate tank .. <BR>On individual mobs a monk will drop them quicker than a zerker..with some decent weapons they dispose of mobs pretty quick.. A zerker at the higher lvls will make mincemeat of multi mob encounters .. Monks also get a heal which helps them out no ends when soloing tough mobs.. plus safe fall .. so if you like jumping off cliffs etc it comes in very handy ..<BR>One area where monks suffer imo is anything over group content ..raid mobs will eat you alive unless you are uber and fully decked out etc.. where a zerker will make the job look easy in comparison..So for out an out tankage I would say a zerkers definetly got the upper hand .. However a monk will solo better and can handle most things just as well but loose out on the harder mobs if tanking for a group ..While I love both classes as I like seeing mobs die I got to say monks are proberly the more fun to play out of the two <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and with another combat update around the corner that is meant to be fixing some of the issues monks have atm who knows what will happen..<BR>I say roll one of each and give em both a go.. I dont think you'll be dissapointed with either ..<BR> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><EM>Very good post.</EM></P> <P><EM>I took the liberty to highlight what I thought was important - and so very very true.  :smileyhappy:</EM><BR></P>

[Zamakou]

<DIV>Ha, nice JudyJudy...a very efficient way of replying. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And thank you for the comments SirJohnno. I have decided on the monk for now. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>